Why Omari Forson is set to leave Manchester United on a free transfer this summer

Manchester United youngster Omari Forson is set to leave the club on a free transfer this summer after turning down new contract offers.

Sources indicated in the winter that Forson was expected to sign a new deal, but talks hit a snag and United’s proposals were rejected by the player’s representatives.

The Manchester Evening News understands United will continue to offer Forson competitive contracts in the hope he signs a new deal before it expires, but he is expected to leave.

Erik ten Hag’s efforts to prove a first-team route for Forson have been in vain and United will receive a compensation fee when he joins a new club.

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Forson was part of the senior squad on the pre-season tour of the United States last summer and Ten Hag gave him his debut against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup in January.

The youngster replaced Marcus Rashford in added time, which meant he became the 249th academy player to make his United debut, and was given more opportunities after that.

Forson made a substitute appearance against Newport County in the next round of the FA Cup and came off the bench in that 4–3 win over Wolves in the Premier League.

He assisted Kobbie Mainoo’s winner at Molineux and made a shock Premier League debut a few weeks later when he started against Fulham on 24 February.

Rasmus Hojlund picked up a muscle injury the day before United faced Fulham at Old Trafford and Forson was selected to start £86m-plus signing Antony, but he looked inexperienced and eventually was replaced by Christian Eriksen shortly into the second half.

Since then, Forson has made substitute appearances against Manchester City, Arsenal and in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, but it was not enough to sign a new contract.

Although the 19-year-old was highly rated by the academy coaches and made an impression at the Ten Hag, he has been considering his options elsewhere for over six months.

Forson is represented by Sports Invest UK, the agency run by Kia Joorabchian, who was the agent responsible for orchestrating Carlos Tevez’s departure from United.

He moved to Manchester from Tottenham’s academy in 2019 and could return to the south where he was born.

Club sources have also pointed to emerging academy talent in Forson’s position with the likes of Shea Lacey, Jack Fletcher and Sam Mather.